Effect of wild grasses planted as border rows on stemborer infestations in maize in Uganda)

The presence of wild grasses in the vicinity of maize fields has been associated with reduced stemborer incidence on the maize crop. This study evaluated the impact of border rows with wild grasses on stemborer infestations and parasitism. Field trials were conducted in East and Central regional Agricultural Research Institutes in Uganda for three seasons. The four grass species planted as border rows included Pennisetum purpureum Schumach, Pennisetum polystachion (L.) Schult, Panicum maximum Jacq. and Sorghum arundinaceum (Desv.) Stapf. (Poaceae) were used. A pure maize stand without a grass border was planted as control. Busseola fusca Fuller (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) and Chilo partellus Swinhoe (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) were the major stemborers found. Maize with P. purpureum and P. maximum borders reduced stemborer infestations and damage compared to the pure maize stand. The results were however, not consistent for all the three seasons. Yield per plot was higher in pure maize stand compared to plots with grass borders. The usefulness of this technique in stemborer management is discussed.